Skillnet Ireland is a business support agency of the Government of Ireland, with a mandate to advance the competitiveness, productivity, and innovation of Irish businesses through enterprise-led workforce development. #TalentTransformsBusiness Our mission is to help businesses in Ireland to be the best they can be, through innovative and enterprise-driven people development. Skillnet Ireland and its 70 Skillnet Business Networks help prepare over 18,000 businesses and 70,000 workers for the future of work each year. We believe that training and upskilling are key elements in keeping Irish companies competitive. We support groups of companies in the same region/sector and with similar training needs through our Skillnet Business Networks, delivering subsidised training to Irish businesses. Employer needs are addressed through both the preservation and growth of jobs, focusing on skills to maintain businesses and protect jobs as well as the enhancement of new skills to create new jobs. The needs of unemployed people are addressed through activation and conversion by focusing on integrated training with employees and dedicated conversion courses and work placement in areas of employment potential. Our Skills Connect initiative offers individuals the opportunity to develop new skills or reskill, build confidence and access practical on-the-job training. Skillnet Ireland was established in 1999 and is funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) through the Department of Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science.